Streaking Rangers down Flyers, 4-1

NEW YORK – There are many interconnected reasons for the Rangers’ recent strong play. But the simple explanation is Henrik Lundqvist and the one-thing-leads-to-another improvement in his play.

“It’s me playing my game, which is deep and patient waiting for the puck,” Lundqvist said. “When you win a couple of games, of course, you gain some confidence. When you have more confidence, you’re more patient and when you’re more patient, you make more saves.”

Lundqvist made 17 first-period saves, 14 more on the third period and 37 total as the Rangers, thanks to a three-goal first period with scores 28 seconds apart, beat the Flyers, 4-1, in a chippy Metropolitan Division rivalry game Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers (24-20-3), who vaulted past the Flyers (23-19-4) and Capitals into second place, have beaten the Flyers in 12 of their past 15 regular-season games as former Flyer Dan Carcillo, playing his third game for the Rangers after being acquired from the Kings, completed two-thirds of a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal and a fight.

They are now 8-2-1 since Dec. 22 and Lundqvist is 5-1-1 as he’s started seven of the past eight games, allowing three or fewer goals in all but one start.

“He talked about being a little bit more patient,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “I’m just focused on one thing with him – stopping the puck. How he does [it], I don’t really care that much.”

Meanwhile, the Rangers have at least one power-play goal in five straight games as they went 1-for-5 against the Flyers and were particularly strong along the boards and in winning one-on-one puck battles.

“The way we want to play has been there for more of the 60 minutes than we were doing previously,” defenseman Marc Staal said. “It’s always fun playing Philadelphia. It’s always intense, chippy and we always get up for playing them.”

The ending certainly was ugly. Brian Boyle took a high hit with 11 seconds to go and wound up engaged with Wayne Simmonds, who had a game-long jawing session with Carcillo. Boyle, Simmonds and Luke Schenn, who fought Carcillo at 7:05 of the second period, all received 10-minute misconducts while Brayden Schenn fought Rangers defenseman John Moore.

“I’m not quite sure what the history is between [Carcillo] and his former teammates,” Vigneault said. “It seemed like there was chatting they hadn’t done in a long time. Sometimes, boys will be boys.”

“There’s only so many times you can ask a guy before something happens,” added Carcillo of his fight. “About the 15th time and five different players. Maybe not the best spot to do it.”

Carcillo opened the scoring at 2:14 of the first period on a backhanded wraparound at the left post past Ray Emery (31 saves) for his first goal since Oct. 13.

Rick Nash made it 2-0 at 2:42 as Derek Stepan won a puck battle and got it in the right corner to Chris Kreider , who fed Nash cutting in from the right faceoff circle.

Derick Brassard’s one-timer at 9:24 of the first period made it 3-0 and Kreider upped that to 4-0 at 13:18 of the second with a power-play backhander.

Meanwhile, Lundqvist made a left-arm save on Vincent Lecavalier’s slot shot at 3:41 of the first period and stopped five shots on the Flyers’ first-period power play.

Only Mark Streit’s deflected shot for a power-play goal at 6:49 of the third period beat him.

“I think the way we started the game helped everyone in here,” Lundqvist said. “I’m happy with the way I’m playing my game right now.”